Franklin’s account of his own life never seems to go out of style. Today, more than three centuries after his birth, “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin” remains a popular read, scoring four out of five stars among enthusiastic Amazon readers.

New Year’s resolutions on the slide? We ask three experts which personal improvement classics really work Self-help books are a billion-dollar business and top the New Year bestseller lists as many of us look for inspiration and support in changing our habits or to cope with the stresses of life.